Christmas Disease - a medical celebration?

Christmas Disease has nothing to do with Christianity,
Santa, mangers, three wise men and a bottle of myrrh. But it has everything
to do with Stephen. And not St. Stephen but Stephen Christmas, that is.

Stephen, a young British lad, was the first patient with
a bleeding tendency recognized to have a different form from “classical”
haemophilia (or hemophilia if you come from the right hand side of the
Pacific Ocean).

His condition was studied by researchers Biggs, Douglas,
and Macfarlane in 1952, who discovered that young Stephen was missing a
different coagulation factor than the more usual one (which is known as
Factor VIII). They named Stephen’s missing factor as Factor IX, and his
condition became known as Christmas Disease.

Just to confuse the issue, we also call Christmas Disease
by other names, including Factor IX deficiency, haemophilia II, haemophilia
B, haemophiloid state C, hereditary plasma thromboplastin component
deficiency, plasma thromboplastin component deficiency, and plasma
thromboplastin factor-B deficiency. There’s probably more, but Christmas
Disease has a much nicer “ring” to it. (Probably “Jingle Bells” at this time
of year!)

From the diagnostic viewpoint, it is very difficult to
differentiate between classical haemophilia and Christmas Disease. The
symptoms are the same, with excessive bleeding seen by recurrent nosebleeds,
bruising, spontaneous bleeding, bleeding into joints and associated pain and
swelling, gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract haemorrhage producing
blood in the urine or stool, prolonged bleeding from cuts, tooth extraction,
and surgery and excessive bleeding following circumcision.

Christmas Disease covers around one in seven cases of the
total haemophilia incidence and is around 1/30,000 in the general
population. This disease is also male dominated, being called a sex-linked
recessive trait passed on by female carriers. This means the bleeding
disorder is carried on the X chromosome. Males being of XY make-up will have
the disease if the X they inherit has the gene. Females, who have XX
chromosomes, are only carriers if either X has the bleeding gene.

Haemophilia has been noted in history for many years, and
Jewish texts of the second century A.D. refer to boys who bled to death
after circumcision, and the Arab physician Albucasis (1013-1106) also
described males in one family dying after minor injuries.

In more recent history, royal watchers know that Queen
Victoria of Britain’s son Leopold had haemophilia, and that two of her
daughters, Alice and Beatrice, were carriers of the gene. Through them,
haemophilia was passed to the royal families in Spain and Russia, leading to
one of the most famous young men with the disease, Tsar Nicholas II’s only
son Alexei.

In the 1800s physicians thought that the bleeding
occurred because of a structural problem in blood vessels. In 1937 a
substance was found in normal blood that would make haemophilic blood clot,
which was named “anti-haemophilic globulin.”

In 1944 researchers found in one case that when the blood
from two different haemophiliacs was mixed, both were able to clot. Nobody
could explain this until 1952, when the researchers in England realized
there were two types of haemophilia. They called his version haemophilia B,
or “Christmas disease,” and the more prevalent kind haemophilia A, or
“classic haemophilia”.

With the discovery of A and B types came the realization
that there must be different types of “anti-haemophilic globulin” involved
in the clotting process. Names were assigned to these various “coagulation
factors” by an international committee in 1962. Haemophilia A is a
deficiency of Factor VIII, and haemophilia B is a deficiency of Factor IX.

Once it became clear that haemophilia was caused by a
deficiency of a coagulation factor, replacement of the missing factor became
the method of treatment. In the early 1950s animal plasma was used. By the
1970s, coagulation factor concentrates made from human plasma were available,
and by the 1980’s we could guarantee that it was HIV free. It has been a
long road since Stephen Christmas.

Meet Leo

This handsome male is 4 years old. He is a well-framed larger breed
that loves walks and activities. He is very friendly, has a lot of
energy and would make a great family dog. He would do really well
with another doggie friend or friends to join him in the fun! Many
of our volunteers have fallen for Leo, so best snap him up quick!
Contact the shelter English (08 47 52 52 55) or Thai language (08 69
13 87 01) or Email: [email protected] to make an appointment
to meet him. Visit www.carefordogs.org for further info.

Heart to Heart with Hillary

Dear Hillary,

A few weeks ago I told you of a ‘rescue’ that a group
of us performed for what we considered was an exploitative situation.
You scolded us, as amateurish meddlers; at first we dismissed your
comments, but after a while we came around and recognized your point of
view and we have chosen to try to help her, as much as she would like,
to restart her life.

The stolen car had a happy ending. After two weeks
the police had not been able to help. On a whim, I went to the leader of
the local motor bike taxi group that lurk outside her apartment, showing
him pictures of the guy and the car and offering a reward for any help.
One of his boys had taken the guy to another apartment block a couple of
times. It took them just under an hour to find the car.
The Rescuers

Dear Rescuers,
Thank you for seeing my point of view in the unfortunate situation you
described a few weeks ago of the Thai lady being taken advantage of by a
farang boyfriend and her car misappropriated. You have shown admirable
nous and the local motorcycle taxi push is always a good place to start
when you need information on anyone’s movements. A few baht well spent
at the street corner can certainly yield big dividends, Petal.

Dear Hillary,
I hope you get this before Christmas, as I would like to thank you for
all the fun you have given the boys over here all year. Sorry I can’t
tell you where we are classified information. And sorry I’m not coming
over to Thailand this time, but I promise I will bring some goodies with
me in March 2011. The guys who don’t deliver annoy me, so I suspect they
must annoy you too. Never mind, chin up and chest out. See you next
year.
Martin

Dear Martin,
I’m not so sure about this “chin up and chest out” advice, it’s probably
all a bit too late for that, but I do thank you and the boys over there
in certain places where you cannot reveal your location. Don’t worry,
I’ll look it up on WikiLeaks, they’re bound to know. When you think
about it, it’s all a bit silly really. This Wiki Julian Meringue or
whatever his name is, doesn’t make up all the information, they
shouldn’t have written it down in the first place. So who’s in the
wrong? All beyond me, Petal, me without a chest to stick out any more.
All the best for 2011.

Dear Hillary,
Why don’t you put all your writings into a book? I reckon it would have
to be a great hit. I have mates overseas who read you every week, just
for the laugh at the idiots who write in. I’ll buy the first copy.
Regular Reader

Dear Reg the Reader,
It is always nice to know that the readers enjoy the column, especially
people who send champagne and chocolates with their letters. We have
discussed putting some of the best letters together, but it is a lot of
work, Reg my Petal. Maybe it will be something for me to do when I
retire. I’ll let you know and autograph that first copy just for you. Of
course the first copy will be more expensive than the others, so in true
fashion for these parts, there will be around 1,000 first copies (just
like the third 50 percent share of many bars)!

Dear Hillary,
Do all Thai people ask you the most personal questions? Things like “How
much money you make? You married yet? Why not? You got girlfriend? You
want me go with you?” Apart from the fact that this is considered a very
rude way of starting a relationship in the west, I also find it very
embarrassing when I am over here. How do I get these people to stop
doing this?
Shy and Retiring

Dear Shy and Retiring,
Or is that Shy and Retired? You have to look at where are these women
who ask such direct questions. My bet is in a bar somewhere. They are
not in the habit of issuing a gilt edged invitation to dinner, hand
inscribed in Ye Olde English. Be real and be thankful that ‘these
people’ as you call them are interested enough in you to even ask
questions. There’s only one thing worse than being a wall-flower at
parties, and that’s not being invited at all. In actual fact, my
turtledove, those inquiries are very cleverly designed “standard” bar
girl questions to see if you are worthwhile bothering with at all. If
you have no money all interest will be lost immediately. Likewise if you
are married they will want to know if “You marry Thai?” or whether your
partner is waiting faithfully for you back home in the UK, while you
contemplate the unfaithful ideas. Lighten up and when you are asked next
time just say, “No money. Wife take all money to boy bar,” and then
laugh a lot. They’ll get the message and you will be left happily
lonely, then you can write me letters asking why does nobody talk to
you!

Camera Class: by Harry Flashman

Give yourself a subject

Joe Louis
theatre.

Royal Garden’s
DC3.

Statue.

There is so much more to photography than pictures of your aunt
Maude and the nephews next time they come to Thailand. Do
yourself a favor and start to look at what is around you. And
what could make an interesting photograph.

There are six photographs with this week’s column.
None of them are related to each other, but they are simply six subjects
snapped within 500 meters of my Pattaya office. The six were taken with
the camera in Auto mode and at 9.30 a.m. so there was nothing technical
in getting the shots.

The subject for Pic 1 was found by looking up, and
there is the advertising for the City Walk. You will not have seen it if
you don’t look up every so often.

Continuing the City Walk there is the stage built for
the Joe Louis players, rising above the greenery. It actually looks
quite dramatic from this angle and again needed to look up.

Along one wall of the City Walk is a fountain/statue.
In the morning light you get interesting areas of shade and brightness.

This fourth photo is interesting, as it looks as if
it were taken somewhere around the Sukhothai region, when in fact it is
50 meters from Second Road in the grounds of the Marriott Resort. When
you see these classical Thai buildings anywhere, you should stop and get
a few photographs.

Once again, photo 5 was only possible after looking
up, and finding the macaw in a tree. Difficult to photograph as he moved
around so much, and the owner would not have like me using super-glue on
his feet!

Finally, once again looking up, there is the familiar
site of the DC3 above the Royal Garden Plaza. You can take this by
shooting from Second Road, but I liked this angle better, getting right
underneath the plane and shooting in portrait, rather than landscape.

There are many great subjects to photograph, and
sometimes it just needs a little bit of careful observation to see them.

Macaw in the ‘wild’.

City
Walk.

Salas in Sukhothai?

Money Matters: Paul Gambles
MBMG International Ltd.

Learning from the past

As the famous Spanish philosopher and essayist, George
Santayana said “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

This adage is particularly true when it comes to the world of
investment, a now global arena that is too often championed by con artists.

Full of style, swagger and myriad false promises these
industrious snake oil merchants are skilled at profiting from the misfortune of
others. But it is not only the inexperienced and gullible who are netted by
their promises of unobtainable returns, hardboiled investors who pride
themselves on being able to smell a rat are often among their victims.

In this article, we will take a brief look at two of the
greatest investment scams of the past century, their common XXXX before shedding
light on some of the dodgier types of products that are doing the rounds today.

Hopefully, these will help you learn from the pain of other
investors’ bad experiences and save you the bother of learning the hard way.

Ninety years ago, Charles Ponzi launched a postal coupon
scheme which sold promissory notes from his Boston base on the East coast of the
US, which guaranteed a 50% return in just 45 days. This “financial wizardry”
caught the popular imagination and Mr Ponzi managed to quickly net $9.5 million
from 10,000 investors.

His promises of total returns of 400% kept the cash flowing
in until the bubble burst. Investors then realised they had been chasing fool’s
gold as Ponzi’s scheme was nothing but a hollow shell, a well thought out but
simple plan that took advantage of human greed by promising something that was
unbelievably good - the key is the word “unbelievably” - he had been using cash
from his most recent investors to pay the notes that had matured.

The Ponzi scheme had arrived.

Fast-forward to 2008 and meet the former chairman of the
Nasdaq Stock Market and member of the board of governors of the National
Association of Securities Dealers who some joke “made off” with his clients’
money because it was a destiny born from his surname. Such witticisms, however,
are unlikely to bring smiles to the faces of Bernie Madoff’s clients who got
nothing when they collectively requested some US$7 billion in redemptions in the
wake of the 2008 Financial Crisis.

Madoff’s claim that his secretive investment strategy was
“too complicated for outsiders to understand” was laid bare when it was revealed
that he was running an old fashioned Ponzi scheme. The 1-2% returns he paid his
clients each month came from new money from new investors. Profit came from the
simple expanding of his client base to net new unwitting investors.

Both Ponzi and Madoff are linked by both their promises to
deliver the undeliverable to investors, and their method of paying off old
investors with the money from new ones.

With hindsight, it may seem all too easy to point out that
generally in life, things that sound too good to be true generally are. And, to
be fair, Madoff had a solid track record of paying his investors the returns he
had promised for years until the credit crunch caused too many clients to demand
redemptions at the same time.

Today, illiquid assets promising fixed returns are a common
feature of some of the more questionable funds being promoted in the market. The
more sinister products also incorporate assets that are essentially impossible
to value.

Some cater to ethical investors who want to earn decent
returns from socially responsible financial products. Many forestry funds fall
into this category, because on scrutiny they fail to provide a robust investment
strategy to back up their claims of above market rate guaranteed returns.

Market traded timber, as a commodity, has a verifiable price
which can be used to forecast the value of an investment in that commodity. Teak
is a good example of this. However, for some other timber products, which is not
traded, there is no such data.

With no verifiable market price and no empirical/historical
data available it is impossible for an investor to check the price assumptions
that are used to generate future guaranteed prices and returns on investment.
This is something to bear in mind the next time a once in a lifetime forestry
fund with guaranteed returns arrives in you email inbox.

Litigation funds are another relatively new product and some
of these are essentially based on the same false foundations as they work on the
basis that investors cover a portion or all of the costs of litigation cases in
exchange for a share of awards granted by the court. But the key question is how
do you value a loan that you made to someone that has no repayment value other
than the proceeds of successful legal cases? How can you value it in a
meaningful way? How do you know that the cases you are funding will be resolved
to your benefit?

An illiquid asset, such as a litigation fund, can only be
made liquid if it can be traded at market price on the open market with all the
pricing issues that entails. But an asset that has no market price cannot be
verified and its entire value is based on the assumption that at some future
point there will be a market and, therefore, a market price for it or there will
be an opportunity to unload it on a private buyer. Once again the odds are
loaded against the investor.

There are a number of other similar funds, such as open-ended
property funds, that trade illiquidity for fixed returns on assets that cannot
be independently valued.

Some key points to remember that could save you from making a
bad investment are:

- There is no such thing as a guaranteed return.

- If something sounds too good to be true it generally is.

- With any investment, especially those which sound the most
promising, take a step back and take time to check out the claims made by the
fund.

Essential questions to ask are:

- How is this asset valued? Are data available that can be
used to verify the price assumptions?

- Is the asset illiquid? Can I redeem my investment before
maturity if necessary?

If the answer to any of these is negative, then do not invest
in the product.

Until then remember, if you are told an investment product is
“too complicated to understand” then it is too complicated to risk investing in.

Please let me take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy &
Prosperous New Year.

The above data and research was
compiled from sources believed to be reliable. However, neither MBMG
International Ltd nor its officers can accept any liability for any
errors or omissions in the above article nor bear any responsibility for
any losses achieved as a result of any actions taken or not taken as a
consequence of reading the above article. For more information please
contact Paul Gambles on [email protected]

DVD of the Week: By Brian Baxter

The Son (2001/2); Directors: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne

This
little masterpiece begins in an air of mystery (accentuated by the intense
camerawork), develops into a gripping psychological thriller and opens up
physically and emotionally into a forceful social realist drama, celebrating
humanity and the nature of redemption. On the surface the simple story might
appeal to ‘born again’ Christians, when in fact its core audience is
intelligent, left wing non-believers interested in what might be called, if
a little pretentiously, the ‘human condition’. Art as paradox.

Olivier Gourmet, the actor for whom the film was written,
describes it as ‘entertainment, but the kind which makes you sit up and
think’. It is one of the finest films of the past decade and comes from the
award-laden Dardenne brothers, who after a number of shorts and
controversial documentaries have made five feature films (a sixth is in
production), The Promise, Rosetta, The Son, The Child and Lorna’s Silence.

They have the unique distinction of being the only
directors to have received – in the long history of the Cannes film festival
– two Palme d’Or awards for Best Film, the most prestigious prize in world
cinema. Gourmet was honoured with the ‘Best Actor’ Palme d’Or for his role
in The Son.

The movie was notionally inspired by the Bulger case in
the U.K., where two youngsters lured a third younger boy from a shopping
centre, then painstakingly and strenuously murdered him. During the
scripting the work moved away drastically from the original concept.

Gourmet plays Olivier, a somewhat nerdish carpenter with
a bad haircut and dull spectacles, who ‘wants to be useful’ and works as an
instructor in a training centre for teenagers, where they learn a trade He
is fortyish, recently divorced and lives alone and is brusquely supportive
and friendly to his charges.

A new lad (16 or so) is offered to him as a trainee, but
he refuses citing a full work load. The boy is moved to welding classes.
Olivier seems obsessed by the new entry into his world and to be stalking
him, almost with a sexual drive. A short while later he decides to take
Francis, a pale skinned, blond lad with haunted eyes (the talented and
perfectly cast Morgan Marinne) into his meticulous care. The ‘secret’ is
revealed and the story shifts gear into a cat and mouse game between a
murderer and his victim by proxy.

It might spoil an element of the suspense integral to a
first viewing to tell more of the ‘story’, although having seen it several
times the impact grows rather than diminishes since as with all worthwhile
movies the actual narrative is only the frame upon which a creative director
displays his thematic concerns.

It would be pointless to suggest that this work has
populist appeal, although its blunt and rigorous directness presents no
complications to an attentive viewer. It is, though, an intense experience
and the ending, whilst perfectly judged and ‘right, seems almost abrupt. It
leaves room for speculation for those who enjoy such exercises. There is
happily no music in the film, the dialogue is sparse and naturalistic and
the concentration is on Olivier – his work, his body, his suppressed
emotions – shown with claustrophobic close-ups and relentlessly probing
tracking shots. Only in the climactic end sequence are we allowed to come up
for air.

There is a classical precision and rhythm to the work,
with a musical structure: a haunting expository opening, a substantial
middle movement and a powerful, redemptive climax with a percussive element
that gives way to an abrupt, serene last chord.

Gourmet does not so much act as exist within the
character, like a latter day Jean Gabin playing a working class man awash
with frustration, emotion and despair. The setting is Liege, but could be
any mid-sized town anywhere in the world. The film’s resonance comes from a
‘documentary’ – style background which gives the story a realism and
authenticity, which we associate with Bresson’s masterpieces.s.

There is nothing miserabilist about the movie, rather it
develops into a work of great compassion and sensitivity. Although it would
be possible to fill the entire pages of this journal with a detailed
examination of it subtleties, let one example suffice…….. The apprentices
have to learn how to safely carry long planks of wood across the shoulder (an
image of the carpenter Christ carrying his cross comes to mind). In the
final section Olivier and Francis each have to carry planks. Shortly
afterwards they share the burden of an extra long plank.

The image is understated and precedes the explosive and
inevitable revelation to the boy. With the rhythmic precision possessed by
only true cinematographers the juxtaposition of the sequences and what
follows is perfectly judged. This film and others by the brothers and works
by Bruno Dumont and Michael Haneke allow one hope for the future of European
cinema.

(Available from the DVD Film centre at 289 Suthep Road,
Chiang Mai).

Let's Go To The Movies: by Mark Gernpy

Now playing in Chiang Mai

Tron: Legacy: US, Action/
Adventure/ Sci-Fi/ Thriller – A rebellious 27-year-old, is haunted by the
mysterious disappearance of his father, played by Jeff Bridges, a man once
the world’s leading video-game developer. Looking into his father’s
disappearance, he finds himself pulled into the same world of fierce
programs and gladiatorial games in which his father has been living for 20
years – a visually stunning cyber universe that is advanced and exceedingly
dangerous.

In this film, 3D is an integral part of the experience, so
yes, do see it in 3D if you have a choice. They used an updated version of
the 3D camera system that James Cameron used to make Avatar, and by
all reports, the 3D is spectacular and cutting-edge. Bridges is reportedly
sensational. Mixed or average reviews. 3D only at Airport Plaza; also 2D
there and at Vista.

Millennium 1: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Men Who
Hate Women): Sweden, Crime/ Drama/ Mystery – in Swedish and English,
with Thai and English subtitles – A densely plotted and compelling thriller,
with graphic violence that will prove too much for some viewers; most,
however, consider it an unforgettable viewing experience. It’s intense and
frightening – filled with nightmarishly violent behavior. All three novels
in the series and all three films have a large and wildly enthusiastic
following world-wide. Rated R in the US for disturbing violent content,
including rape, grisly images, sexual material, nudity, and language; 18+ in
Thailand. Generally favorable reviews. Vista only, with thanks for bringing
this series to Chiang Mai.

Millennium 2: The Girl Who Played with Fire: Sweden,
Crime/ Mystery/ Thriller – in Swedish, with Thai and English subtitles –
Mikael, publisher of Millennium magazine, has made his living exposing the
crooked and corrupt practices of establishment Swedish figures, so when a
young journalist approaches him with a meticulously researched thesis about
sex trafficking in Sweden and those in high office who abuse underage girls,
he immediately throws himself into the investigation. Meanwhile Lisbeth is
accused of three murders, causing her to flee while Mikael tries to clear
her name. Rated R in the US for brutal violence including a rape, some
strong sexual content, nudity, and language; 18+ in Thailand. Generally
favorable reviews. At Vista only.

Millennium 3: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest:Sweden,
Crime/ Drama/ Thriller – in Swedish, with Thai and English subtitles – At
the start of this third and final episode, two seriously injured people
arrive at an emergency ward. One is the wanted murderer Lisbeth Salander who
has taken a bullet to the head and needs immediate surgery, the other is an
older man who Lisbeth has attacked with an axe. Throughout, Lisbeth plans
her revenge against the men who tried to kill her, and the government which
nearly destroyed her life. Rated R in the US for strong violence, some
sexual material, and brief language; 15+ in Thailand. Mixed or average
reviews. At Vista only.

The Tourist: (perhaps), Action/ Drama/
Thriller – Johnny Depp stars as an American tourist whose playful dalliance
with a stranger leads to a web of intrigue, romance, and danger. With
Angelina Jolie. Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (The Lives
of Others – very fine film!). Generally unfavorable reviews.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader:
, Adventure/ Family/ Fantasy – I found this an excellently crafted
movie, and quite superlative of its type. It’s a detailed fantasy about a
magical land, and if you like that sort of thing, or your kids do, then you
will love this. Overall, the special effects and the magic were just
exceedingly well done, and the animated characters excellent. Only in 2D
now, and at Vista only Thai-dubbed. Mixed or average reviews.

Yes or No: , Comedy/ Romance – A sweet girl off to
college finds her roommate to be somewhat of a guy-acting tomboy. As they
get to be veryclose friends, the question becomes whether it’s
friendship or something more fun. Probably not, because the film is only
rated 15+, but the filmmakers play around with the idea.

Due 6 Jan

Hereafter: US, Drama/ Fantasy – Matt Damon in a film
by Clint Eastwood, which investigates what three people know about the
afterlife. What do people believe, and what is the truth? Mixed or average
reviews. But it sounds fascinating to me.

Megamind:US, Animation/ Action/ Comedy – Actually,
believe it or not, I found this rather cute and funny. But you do have to
like animation. About the unhappiness of the most brilliant supervillain the
world has ever known ... and the least successful. Over the years, he has
tried to conquer Metro City in every imaginable way. Each attempt, a
colossal failure thanks to the caped superhero known as “Metro Man,” until
the day Megamind actually defeats him in the throes of one of his evil
plans. Generally favorable reviews.

Bridge in Paradise : by Neil Robinson

As I write this column I am in New Orleans to inspect the
blowout preventer from the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico (fortunately
the blowout preventer has been salvaged and is now on dry land—so I did not
have to go diving—-but unfortunately it did not prevent the blowout). This
column is based on a hand from the Times-Picayune newspaper of New Orleans.
The hand is below. You are sitting South and playing six spades in a team
competition, so making an overtrick is not important—making the contract is
all that counts. West leads the jack of diamonds. What is your plan to
maximize your chance of making 6S?

This is a tough hand to make. Most people would probably
take the first trick on board with the ace. Then pull trumps and lead a low
club from board towards the jack. West wins with the king and leads another
diamond. Win this and cash the ace and queen of clubs, hoping for a 3-3
split. If clubs did split, then you could throw a heart from board on the
fourth club. Unfortunately, no such luck, so you have to take the heart
finesse. This fails also and you go down, losing both the king of hearts and
the king of clubs. If you played it like this you would have reason to
complain of bad luck. You have three chances to make—either king being
onside or the clubs splitting, but nothing works.

However, there is a better line of play. It is tough to
come up with, but if you found it (which I did not!), then you deserve
congratulations. This line is better because it gives you an extra chance—it
succeeds whenever West has either one, two or three clubs, no matter where
the king is. Take the ace and king of diamonds, then ruff a diamond high in
hand. Now cash the ace of clubs and draw trumps, ending on board. Then lead
a club towards the jack. If East had the king, South could return to dummy
to lead another club towards the queen, setting up the 12th trick. On the
actual hand, West wins the second club with the king, but has only hearts
and diamonds left and is now helpless. If West leads a diamond you can throw
a heart from board and ruff in hand, so you never lose a heart.
Alternatively, if West leads a heart it gives you a free finesse. Either way,
slam made!

Bridge Club of Chiang Mai welcomes new players. For
information on the Club go to the web site www.bridgewebs.com/chiangmai. If
you have bridge questions, or to send me your interesting hands, please
contact me at: [email protected]

MAIL OPINION: By Shana Kongmun

Something new under the sun

I am not one for New Year’s resolutions as
I tend to believe that you shouldn’t need to set a specific date to choose
to change things in your life but rather you should just get on with things
and do it. However, there is a certain something about the changing of this
rather arbitrary date in our calendar that does cause me to pause and
reflect on the year past and the forthcoming.

I am now marking the little more than one year mark
as the managing editor for the Chiang Mai Mail and I have to say that
this year has been a huge learning curve for me. I came to Chiang Mai a
newbie, as it were, not to Thailand but to Chiang Mai. I have come to
learn that yes, indeed, all the regular protestations of uniqueness that
you hear from residents and the tourism board are, in fact true. Chiang
Mai is a unique and different place to live from other places in
Thailand and I have come to see and understand the magic of this place
that brings people back and draws people to stay.

Dr. Howard Graves, a well known and iconic figure in
the Chiang Mai community, said something the other night that resonated
to me. He pointed out how the Chiang Mai community is welcoming to all,
regardless of where they are from or what they look like. That the
friendliness of people here draws you in so you become a part of the
community. And he’s right. I came knowing virtually nobody and I have
made dear friends, met the most interesting people and enjoyed my year
in Chiang Mai thoroughly. I look forward to many more years to come.
After 22 years in Thailand, much to my surprise, I have discovered
something new. So, perhaps my New Year’s resolution should rather be,
accept that there is always something new under the sun.

How does your garden grow?: By Eric Danell,Dokmai Garden

Garden jelly

Dokmai Garden’s herb master, Mrs. Nived Seehamongkol,
returned this morning from a funeral in Esan in the northeast of Thailand.
Although the occasion was sad, it did not stop a plant fanatic like her to
search for new plants. She brought Cyclops barbata (Menispermaceae), called
‘monoi’ in Esan language. A central Thai name is ‘bai kon pit’. One English
name is Green Jelly Leaf.

This is how they use the plant in Esan: Take 6 leaves and
crush them in 2 dl of water. Sieve the liquid and quickly mix with fish
sauce, salt, galanga and fish or frog meat. Within 5 minutes, the dish will
turn into jelly, thanks to the polysaccharides extracted. Nived said this is
a cooling dish which is good in the hot season, and to calm down an upset
stomach. The plant is a liana native to Thailand and Southeast Asia, and
prefers a shady place for its establishment before growing out into the sun.

Plant jellies are common foods in China and Southeast
Asia. Other sources of jelly are the agar (the red sea alga Gelidium amansii)
and the Chinese Jelly Leaf Platostoma palustre (Mesona chinensii), called
‘chao-kuai’ in Thai. It is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), so the
other English vernacular name jelly grass should be avoided. The plant is
cultivated in Chiang Rai, and its jelly is commonly seen in the form of
black cubes in Thai desserts. The jelly can be combined with fruit juices to
add more flavour. Like the green jelly leaf, it has cooling properties and
is often served with ice.

The famous Jelly Nut is a fruit from a Thai tree (phung
thalai), Scaphium scaphigerum (Malvaceae). This tree (sometimes called
Marshmallow Tree) is common in the south of Thailand, but grows well at
Dokmai Garden where we can irrigate it. In Thailand its jelly is used for
making a cough medicine.

All jellies give your stomach a sensation of being full,
while in reality it is just water bound to the jelly fibers. Therefore sugar
free jellies are good for people suffering from obesity.
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Life in Chiang Mai: By Colin Jarvis

New Year Resolutions - for Other People

Living in Chiang Mai we begin to relax. We find minor
irritations do not irritate us any longer. Big irritations do not seem so
irritating. But still some irritations remain. Some people just do not think
clearly or behave properly. The following are three resolutions that, if
other people followed them, I would become serene and probably live a few
more years.

Road Map: I first noticed the term “Roadmap” being used
by George W. Bush in relation to the rebuilding of Iraq. I thought, at
first, that this was another Bushism. After all, he was the man who said
“The French have no such word as entrepreneur”. Since then I have heard the
term used to describe the Burmese development of democracy, the Thai
reconciliation programme and now I find many people using this term to
describe both great and mundane projects.

“Route map” I could accept. A route map shows where to
start, where to finish and how to get there. A roadmap does no such thing.
It does not tell you where you are, where you are going, or how to get
there. Still maybe that’s what the politicians and others want. To appear to
say something when in fact they say nothing, to imply they know what they’re
doing when in fact they have no clue.

Why don’t they use a much shorter word that means a great
deal more, why don’t they simply use the word “Plan”? Resolution: I will use
the word “Plan”, instead of “Roadmap” unless I want to mislead people.

Making Money and Creating Wealth: It seems to me that the
latest world financial crisis was caused simply because people have
forgotten the difference between making money and creating wealth. Stock and
shares and commodity futures were not originally designed for speculation.
They were there to help commerce raise money for new, wealth creating
activities.

In this new world of computer driven decision making and
a worldwide market it is now up possible for far more people, than in the
past, simply to speculate on these markets and to derive other financial
products simply to make money. There is nothing wrong in making money but if
it is done by speculation it simply means that one person wins whilst
another person loses. The total value is not increased. Wealth simply moves
from one person or organisation, to another. True wealth is created by
utilising capital, labour and creativity to produce something. That might be
a product or a service but it is something that increases the total value of
the economy. Speculation, these days, can create serious economic problems
as we have seen.

Resolution: I will concentrate on creating wealth and I
will never speculate again.

Day Tripper: Fesitvals galore

By Heather Allen

Chiang Mai has no shortage of things to do and January
sees a lot of festivals on offer, Bor Sang has its umbrella festival coming
up, while Baan Tawai has a wood carving festival at the end of the month.

The
Red Cross Winter Fair is currently running out behind the Provincial Hall,
there is the Floral festival out at Ratchaphruek Royal Park, one of my
favorites, I have to admit! Warorot is celebrating its 100th anniversary and
one of the events there will be the Mahakad Arts Festival. Another flower
event is the Floral Miracle of Chiang Mai held at the 80th Anniversary
Commemoration Garden (opposite the 700 Years Stadium). There is a
fundraising fete at JJ Market on January 16 for the Royal British Legion’s
Poppy appeal and an exhibition of the Chiang Mai Photographic Group’s works
on display at the Northern Village in Central Airport Plaza, sure to be
fantastic photos. I went last year and found the quality to be extremely
high.

For the athletic, Bike for Elephants charity biking event
is taking place in mid January. This should be a fun and interesting and
worthy event for those who want to get out of town, get some exercise and
most of all, help the elephants. The bike ride goes through Mae Taeng valley
and involves an overnight stay at the Elephant Nature Park as well. Details
can be found in the community calendar on pages 8 and 9.

So, even if you don’t feel like getting out of town for
the elephants, or seeing beautiful umbrellas and pretty girls in Bor Sang,
you can still find things to do right here in town. (Bor Sang photo by
Yossuntorn Sawasdee)

BIRWATCHING TALES:
By Mike Gilman

More birds of New South Wales

Further on from last edition’s column, we travelled
to Soldiers Point which is not too far from Nelson Bay and having found
our land-legs again we wandered into a wooded area and watched the
antics of the Laughing Kookabura. This 45cm long, thick billed bird can
be distinguished by it’s chuckling call. We watched as it was on the
ground breaking an egg open and devouring the unborn chick. In due
course we viewed the bird’s tree-hole nest and its many forages for
insects and worms to feed hungry mouths. As we emerged into a clearing
several red headed, white cheeked Eastern Rosella parrot type birds flew
around. Long tailed and sporting many colours this species seemed to
move around in small groups. Picturesque Shoal Bay had some welcome
shady retreats, and there an abundance of Galah Parrots kept cool
amongst the leafage. Their pink heads, rose / pink underparts and grey
backs were conspicuous. Occasionally some would fly to overhead cables
and hang upside down. Quite an interesting species whose antics differed
greatly from the ‘everyday’ bird. Nearby, and walking quite sedately was
the unique looking Spinifix Pigeon. Albeit is small, 23cm long, by
normal pigeon standards it sports a tall chestnut crest and has grey /
black barring on the wings. Also, and not wanting to be left out of the
picture the Little Corella, a crested parrot made several appearances.
At 42cm long this mainly white bird had a blue eye-ring.

Continuing north route 1 took us to Bulahdelah and
along the wooded twisting lanes to Smiths Lake. Here the Pied
Oystercatcher, that red billed, red legged, red eye-ringed probing
master was busy by the water’s edge. Being 50cm long with such
contrasting colours, it is quite easy to identify. The quaint town of
Forster has a long bridge over Wallis Lake and close by was Tern Island.
Hiding amongst bracken we watched the Magpie Lark scouring the ground
for insects, then walking up to the ‘point’ the ebbing estuary had two
Great Egrets stealthily stalking their aquatic prey. And indeed experts
they were, for despite their all white colour and yellow bills they
caught fish as though there was no tomorrow. In a lagoon nearby a 90cm
long Great Cormorant stood with wings outstretched, as is nature’s
drying mode.

Botany Bay is the historical landing place of Captain
Cook in April 1770. A plaque marks the occasion. In a copse close by the
curious Black Faced Cuckoo Shrike searched for insects on the ground.
Their habit of shuffling their wings upon landing is most unusual.
Surveying this famed area we noticed a swamp with a crested large white
bird which swept it’s long bill from side to side in the shallow water.
With a black spatulate bill and black legs the Royal Spoonbill was a
surprising joy to observe.

There are both House and Tree Sparrows resident in
Australia, and yet for the duration of our stay we never saw any. Enjoy
the gifts of nature.